Chris Gohlke
12-19-2007, 03:00 AM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20071216-battle-of-the-next-gen-firewire-s3200-vs-usb-3.html' target='_blank'>http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20071216-battle-of-the-next-gen-firewire-s3200-vs-usb-3.html</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Maximum theoretical data throughput will definitely be a point of contention between the two standards. Intel has stated that it expects USB 3.0 to be 10 times as fast as USB 2.0, which would give it a 4.8Gbps transfer rate. In contrast, the current iteration of S3200 will top out at 3.2Gbps. It's impossible to predict how much the throughput difference between the two standards will impact real-world device performance, but it's definitely a marketing edge that USB 3.0 proponents will lean on. Of course, FireWire—up to and including S3200—has always offered certain advantages that USB lacks. Not only is it markedly less CPU-intensive due to its peer-to-peer nature (USB is master/slave), but FireWire is capable of delivering more power over a single cable. FireWire also allows for cable runs of up to 100 meters; USB 2 allows for a mere fraction of this, though USB 3.0 should increase cable lengths considerably. "</i><br /><br />Even though it should be ready early next year, I would not expect to see many products until 2009. At least on the USB side, I don't imagine there will be much of a rush to upgrade, since I'd bet that most users think USB 2 is probably fast enough and will instead upgrade by default when the time comes.